740.00119 Council/12–2345: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 3:30 p.m.]
4262. This is Delsec 23. For the Acting Secretary from the Secretary for your information only. During separate conversations with Stalin on Dec 19 both Bevin and I raised question of withdrawal of troops from Iran.38
Substance of Stalin’s remarks to me on this point was as follows:
- 1.
- Iran Govt is hostile to Soviet Union and there is danger that this hostility will manifest itself in sabotage of Baku oil fields. It is for this reason that Russia continues to maintain troops in Iran.
- 2.
- Treaty of 1921 gives Russia right to send troops into Iran if conditions become disturbed in that country. In light of Iranian hostility which creates danger to Russia it will be necessary for Soviet [Page 511] Union to consider later whether Soviet troops can be withdrawn in accordance Tripartite Treaty of 1942 or must be retained under terms of 1921 treaty.
- 3.
- Soviet forces are not interfering in Iranian internal disturbances. Reason they are refusing permit entry additional Iranian forces into Azerbaijan is that they fear clashes between local population and Iranian troops and incidents involving Soviet troops as well. Even now, his troops are suffering and several Russian soldiers have been killed by Iranian detachments.
- 4.
- Iranian Govt is trying to stir up trouble between Russia and Anglo-Saxon powers. We must be skeptical of Iranian complaints.
- 5.
- We may rest assured Soviet Union has no territorial or other designs against Iran. Once it feels secure about Baku oil fields USSR will withdraw forces and take no interest whatever in internal affairs of Iran.
I expressed surprise that Stalin considered Iranian Govt hostile to Russia and reiterated my belief it was important that great powers should always be able to show they were living up to agreements and behaving correctly toward small nations.
Stalin’s statements to Bevin on Iran were along same lines as those to me. Bevin said British Government had suggested to Iranians that they put into practice constitutional provisions regarding provincial councils and he thought it would be well for Russia, US and Britain to work together to assist Iranian Govt in this. Stalin said he would consider suggestion and indicated it might be acceptable.
It has been agreed that I shall see Stalin again before departure.
Sent to Dept as 4262, repeated Tehran as 187. [Byrnes.]
- See memorandum of conversation by the United States delegation of the Byrnes-Stalin meeting and the record by the United Kingdom delegation of the Bevin-Stalin meeting, vol. ii, pp. 680 and 688, respectively.↩